The Ogun State Government has unveiled two initiatives, the Plastic for Cash and Blue Box, to combat plastic pollution and environmental degradation in the state .
Unveiling the initiatives at the Owu Palace as part of activities marking the the 2025 World Environmental Day themed: ‘Beating Plastic Pollution in Ogun State’, the wife of the governor, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun, said the innovative programmes would not only reward individuals for enbracing plastic recycling and responsible waste disposal, it would also encourage a culture of sustainability and show how creative thinking could drive lasting behavioural change.
She called on residents of the state to support the initiatives as the growing crisis of plastic pollution affects their health, economy, and the planet.
“We must confront this challenge with bold ideas, practical solution and collective resolve to have a clean healthier and safer environment, which these initiatives are aimed at ending,” she stated.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Environment, Dr Ola Oresanya,he said the theme for this year World Environment Day, ‘Beating Plastic Pollution’, was not only timely but critical for the ecosystem, the economy and the citizens, adding that plastic products such as bottles, caps, cigarettes, shopping bags, cups and stress had grown into a global crisis that were choking water bodies, polluting lands and infiltrating the food chain.
Oresanya added that the Plastic for Cash and Blue Box initiatives were not just policies, but a movement to behavioural change as residents would be able to exchange sorted plastic waste for cash and value- based items, thereby not only turning waste to wealth, but reducing plastic pollution and environmental degradation, and create economic opportunities particularly for the youths, women and low income earners
The Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba Saka Matemilola, called for attitudional change from residents of the state on how they carelessly dispose their plastic waste as it not only caused environmental degradation, but also affect aquatic life in rivers.
There were goodwill messages from the National Environment Standard Regulation Enforcement Agency, Nigeria Environmental Society, and the Ogun State Waste Management Authority; while the highlight of the celebration was the swapping of plastic waste for cash by residents of Abeokuta at the event venue.
